If you love wacky cruise trivia sure to make your head explode, you’re about to feel like you’re hosting trivia night on the Lido Deck and I’m your Cruise Director.
As a veteran cruiser, I must say, my how the cruise industry has changed over the years. To begin with, cruising is no longer just beaches and buffets. Instead, it’s roller coasters at sea, private islands owned by Disney, floating jails, onboard morgues, and pineapples that mean far more than you thought.
In other words, to use the dating term, it’s complicated.
You know me — I honestly believe the cup you reach for reflects how you want the moment to feel. That quiet, intentional choice has the ability to shape the entire experience. When your cup matches your mood, everything flows more smoothly. And that, ladies and gentlemen, was the concept behind CupofMood.
Right now, for me, my mood is cruise countdown because we sail away tomorrow.
So if your mood is “counting down to sail-away,” then this trivia is about to fuel it perfectly — especially if you’re sipping from something inside my Cruise Collection.
Now, let’s play.
Roller Coasters at Sea (Yes, Really)
To begin with, here’s a warm-up question.
What is the first-ever cruise ship to feature a roller coaster at sea?
Most people assume Royal Caribbean.
However, the correct answer is Carnival Mardi Gras (2021). Carnival Mardi Gras launched the first roller coaster at sea in 2021.
Carnival Cruise Line introduced the BOLT roller coaster on the top deck in 2021. Guests can speed around the track while staring straight at open ocean. In fact, that’s not just vacation — that’s floating adrenaline.
And when you think about it, Carnival is known as The Fun Ship. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that a fun ship would introduce one of the most popular fun experiences in the world — a roller coaster.
Now, since I had the pleasure of sailing on the Mardi Gras in 2024, let me give you a little insider advice if you’re planning to ride the roller coaster at sea.
Book early. As in, BEFORE the cruise.
As you can imagine, riding a roller coaster at sea is an experience many people want for themselves and their kids, so reservations go quickly. We learned firsthand that if you wait until you board, you’ll likely end up on a standby list.
And on the note of planning ahead for your Carnival cruise, check out this blog post for helpful tips on what is and isn’t allowed onboard:
After all, showing up prepared gets you ready for fun faster.
The Love Boat Came Back
Now let’s shift gears to one of my childhood favorite TV shows, The Love Boat.
In fact, I have a confession. Part of my love for cruising may have started because I wanted to be Vicki.
Yes, that Vicki — Captain Merrill Stubing’s daughter. The young girl who basically grew up on a cruise ship while her dad, played by Gavin MacLeod, ran the Pacific Princess.
Vicki Stubing was smart, sweet, and had what might be the coolest childhood address in television history: permanently at sea.
And remember when Vicky got married in the 1990 reunion movie? Oh, you forgot about that? Don’t worry, you can fall down the nostalgia rabbit hole yourself right here:
https://theloveboat.fandom.com/wiki/Vicki_Stubing
Looking back now, I can’t help but laugh. I thought I just liked the show. In reality, I may have been manifesting a future cruise obsession without even knowing it.
Ok, I’m back from my trip down memory lane and back to the business at hand, wacky cruise trivia sure to make your head explode. Here’s the next question.
Which cruise line offered a Love Boat cruise with some of the original cast, bringing The Love Boat nostalgia back to sea?
The answer is Princess Cruises.
Of course, if you grew up watching television in the 70s and 80s, you probably already knew that.
The Love Boat aired from 1977 to 1986 and was filmed aboard Princess ships, featuring the cruise line prominently in nearly every episode. Week after week, viewers tuned in to watch romance, humor, and glamorous vacations unfold at sea — and just like that, Princess became permanently linked to dreamy, sun-soaked cruise vacations in pop culture.
And now? Princess doesn’t just nod to that history — they celebrate it.
They host special Love Boat themed sailings where fans can relive the magic alongside other guests who adored the show. Think cast appearances, themed events, exclusive onboard experiences — the full nostalgic vibe.
Just imagine sailing through turquoise Caribbean waters with white sand beaches in the distance, all while hearing firsthand stories from the original cast. Sign me up.
Now I have to admit, I was a little disappointed this option wasn’t available the couple of times I cruised Princess. We had a wonderful time, of course — but honey, meeting the Love Boat cast would have been the cherry on top.
So when I found out you can literally sail with the Love Boat cast, I knew without a doubt that qualifies as wacky cruise trivia sure to make your head explode.
Especially for oldhead GenXers like me.
Somewhere in this blog, a tiny CupofMood Cruise Duck is hiding.
If you find it, you’ll unlock a special 15% discount code.
The One Cruise Trivia Question We All Side-Eye
So the question is — how much weight do most people gain on a 7-day cruise?
Okay, I know. We don’t really want to talk about this.
Still, I’d be remiss if I didn’t share this little tidbit about cruise life. And honestly? It’s not as bad as you might think.
The answer is that on average, someone gains about 3–5 pounds on a 7-day cruise.
And honestly? I thought that number was going to be much higher.
So the part that made my head explode wasn’t the weight gain — it was that it was only around 3–5 pounds.
Because let’s be real. On a Carnival cruise, with those Guy’s Burgers alone? I could easily put on 3–5 pounds. And add an extra pound just for all of the Guy’s famous Donkey Sauce that I slather on everything even slightly related to the burger. Yes, that means, fries and more!
Hey, if you know. You know.
In fact, in my latest cruise video, that picture of me smiling in front of Guy’s Burgers was from my Carnival Cruise in 2024. Guys was, of course, the first stop we made.
But you have to check out the video because the graphics of the burgers popping up around the clock and Sandra Bullock award speech moment where she basically says she just wants a burger and a nap. I put that video together because all of those elements combined account for how I want my cruise to be. Filled with eating, napping and eating again!
If you want to see what I’m talking about, here’s the video:
So yes, maybe those 3–5 pounds are edible memories.
And the beautiful thing about edible memories?
You can burn the calories later.
But the laughter.
The late-night burgers.
That satisfied feeling of relaxing your cares away one bite at a time.
Those memories stay with you.
Now on to the next cruise trivia question.
What’s Something Every Ship Has… and Something No Ship Has Onboard?
Now this one made me pause.
What’s something every cruise ship has onboard… and what’s one thing no ship has onboard?
Let’s start with the first answer.
Cruise ships have a jail. It’s called a brig.
Most passengers never see it. Still, we’ve all watched those famous cruise fight videos floating around online. People are oddly fascinated that someone would actually throw hands on vacation.
So if someone gets a little too carried away at sea, the ship has a secure holding area. It’s not dramatic. It’s not advertised. 🦆 CUPDUCK15. But it’s there — just like the duck.
Ships operate like floating cities. And cities prepare for everything. So that part didn’t shock me too much.
But this next one?
The Cruise Fact That Caught Me Off Guard
Here’s a piece of cruise trivia that isn’t lighthearted — but it’s real. In fact, having recently lost a couple of friends who are about the same age as I am, keeps it real.
Statistics estimate that 3–4 deaths occur per week across cruise ships worldwide. When you consider the number of ships sailing at any given time, and the thousands of passengers onboard — many of whom are retirees enjoying well-earned vacations — that number becomes more understandable.
Not to mention, ships operate for days, some even weeks, at sea, which means they prepare for every possibility.
So believe it or not, all major cruise ships have a morgue onboard. When you think about it, they have to.
When you really stop and think about it, it makes sense. But it hits differently when you see it in real life.
In fact, we experienced that reality firsthand on one of our sailings, as you can see in the video below. During that cruise, we witnessed the respectful transfer of a casket from the ship while docked in port. It was handled with professionalism and care.
Cruising is joyful and exciting, full of laughter and late-night burgers. Still, it’s also real life happening at sea. Sometimes, cruise trivia reminds us of that.
Now here’s the other half of our question — something no ship has onboard.
There is no dentist.
So if you crack a tooth at sea, medical staff can assist. However, a full dental clinic does not exist onboard.
Pineapples… But Make It Controversial
Next, let’s talk door decorations.
Why did Carnival ban certain pineapple door decorations in 2024? Well, it’s because upside-down pineapples have become associated with swingers.
As a result, Carnival restricted certain décor to help maintain a family friendly atmosphere. And what happens if you put one up, you ask? The staff will remove it. No fuss, it will just be gone.
So what appears tropical and playful can, in fact, signal something entirely different.
All in all, that alone qualifies as wacky cruise trivia sure to make your head explode.
What’s in the Pool?
Picture yourself on deck.
Music playing.
Sun blazing.
Pool packed.
Now consider this:
What type of water fills cruise ship pools?
Not tap water. Instead, it’s processed sea water.
More specifically, the water is filtered and treated onboard prior to entering the pool system.
So technically, you’re swimming in ocean water — just refined.
The Largest Cruise Ships Belong To…
Now for the big one.
Which cruise line owns the largest cruise ships in the world?
Royal Caribbean International continues to dominate with mega-ships like Icon of the Seas. These ships feel more like floating cities than traditional cruise vessels.
You’ll find surf simulators, full water parks, entire entertainment districts, and experiences layered deck upon deck.
And again, as a veteran cruiser who has sailed Royal Caribbean before, cruising has changed a lot over the past decade. The ships felt grand back then. Now? They’re almost unbelievable.
See for yourself:
https://www.royalcaribbean.com/
The Yellow Lifeboat Clue
Here’s a detail many people overlook.
What cruise line is the only one with yellow lifeboats?
The answer is Disney. Of course.
Disney Cruise Line is the only cruise line with bright yellow lifeboats, designed to match their signature color palette. It’s one of those little details that makes you smile once you notice it.
But let’s take it one step further.
What’s the name of Disney’s private island in the Bahamas?
Because yes — they don’t just sail to destinations.
They own one.
The answer is Castaway Cay.
Disney Cruise Line owns Castaway Cay, their private island in the Bahamas reserved exclusively for Disney guests. When you step off the ship, you’re stepping into a fully curated Disney experience — from themed signage to character sightings to perfectly maintained beaches.
In other words, Disney doesn’t just sail.
They build the world around the sailing.
Explore sailings here:
https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/
The Small Luxury Ship Owned By…
Finally, here’s the one that truly surprises people.
Name the religious organization that owns a small luxury cruise ship that frequents Aruba and Curaçao.
The answer is The Church of Scientology.
They operate a vessel called the Freewinds. Interestingly, Aruba and Curaçao are regular stops.
So if you’ve cruised those ports, you may have seen it without realizing.
Speaking of Aruba, start here for port inspiration:
https://cupofmood.com/spectacular-aruba-cruise-port-backdrops-guaranteed-to-break-the-internet/
https://cupofmood.com/unbelievable-aruba-cruise-port-gems-you-can-do-in-a-day/
Because while trivia entertains, colorful Caribbean streets restore.
Cruise Collection Energy
All this wacky cruise trivia sure to make your head explode proves something important.
Cruising is layered.
It’s got entertainment; it’s got engineering; it’s got culture. Not to mention, it’s got pop history.
So that’s one of the reasons, I created the Cruise Collection.
It’s not just drinkware. Rather, it’s a reminder of the moments that made you laugh, learn, and look at ships differently.
Explore the Cruise Collection here:
Because cruise lovers don’t just travel. They relive it.
The Final Sip
Wacky cruise trivia sure to make your head explode proves one thing.
Cruising is never basic.
Instead, it’s bigger than you think. Additionally, it’s stranger than you expect. Ultimately, it’s far more fascinating than most people realize.
And sometimes, keeping that spark alive is as simple as sipping from something that reminds you the ocean is calling again.
Until Next Time,
Namaste,
Khadeeja